Alexander Gesmundo

Gesmundo urges court workers to get COVID-19 shots under ‘PinasLakas’ drive

August 16, 2022 Hector Lawas 207 views

CHIEF Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo has encouraged court officials and employees to participate in the national government’s free vaccination program to fight COVID-19.

Speaking during the launch of the “PinasLakas” vaccination drive at the Supreme Court (SC) courtyard in Manila, Gesmundo expressed his gratitude to the Department of Health (DOH) and the City Government of Manila for their tireless support for the judiciary’s drive to vaccinate its employees and their families.

“With the help once again of the national and local governments, we have extended our vaccination and booster drives to not just our employees alone, but to their families and household members as well. Truly, our continuing coordination and cooperation with these two entities have proved vital to the fulfillment of our duties in this time of crisis,” said Gesmundo.

“To be sure, more than ever, we need a sense of oneness, a sense of nationhood, a sense of common good, for in the difficulties that lie ahead, we know that we cannot triumph individually. We can only prevail as a whole, as one nation dedicated towards a common goal, the public welfare,” he added.

DOH Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Maria Rosario Singh Vergeire also expressed gratitude as she thanked the judiciary “for joining the call to expand vaccination coverage through participation in the PinasLakas.”

PinasLakas, which was launched nationwide on July 26, 2022, is the stronger nationwide booster vaccination campaign of the present administration in its first 100 days.

“Congratulations at maraming-maraming salamat dahil ang Supreme Court ay dininig ang panawagan ng Kagawaran ng Kalusugan ng national government that we become models among all of our employees and offices to show that vaccines work and are safe… and they are effective and being provided free by the government,” said Vergeire.

Joining the launch of the PinasLakas were Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting, Justice Samuel H. Gaerlan, Justice Ricardo R. Rosario, Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez, Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, Justice Jose Midas P. Marquez, and Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh.

Judicial Integrity Board Vice Chairperson (Ret.) Justice Angelina Sandoval-Gutierrez, Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando, DOH OIC Undersecretary Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, DOH Assistant Secretary Dr. Nestor F. Santiago, and several Court officials were also in attendance.

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